Chapter 175: Cannot Be Like This

Xuan Yangzi leaped high into the air and saw a government office Runner striking a yellow gong with force.

Moreover, the expression on this government office Runner's face was as if he were looking at the murderer of his father, filled with hatred.

Afterward, he landed on the roof and saw four government office Runners nearby, each wearing a similar expression.

Why did these people hate him so much?

While he was puzzled, the urgent sound of the gong immediately drew the attention of government office Runners in other areas.

Subsequently, gong sounds rang out in other places and began moving toward this direction.

This is bad.

Xuan Yangzi immediately began leaping rapidly across the rooftops.

His movement speed was fast, but it was still affected by his internal injuries, making him considerably slower than before he was hurt.

The government office Runners striking the gongs were quickly shaken off by him.

Just then, a whooshing sound suddenly reached his ears.

He turned his head and saw that archers were already standing on the surrounding rooftops.

"Is this really necessary?"

He cursed angrily and ran even faster, disregarding the fact that his blood qi had begun to surge.

Unlike the two Monks who practiced external art, Xuan Yangzi cultivated internal art, and his body was not as resilient as those two Monks.

They could use their flesh to block dozens of arrows, but he couldn't even block one or two.

At this moment, he suddenly saw a man dressed in government office Runner attire standing on the roof ahead, holding a sword and standing with a very fierce appearance.

Xuan Yangzi immediately changed direction and ran, but he did not expect the opponent to actively chase after him at high speed, moving much faster than him.

This lightness skill... it belongs to the Lingxiao Sect.

Damn it, how could that dog official recruit such an expert to serve him!

He secretly hated it in his heart; at this time, a massive number of arrows shot toward him from all sides, forcing him to stop immediately and leap backward.

And just then, Xiao Chunzhu caught up.

The silver long sword split into two, transforming into a ball of silver light, slashing toward Xuan Yangzi's head.

At this moment, Li Lin was sitting cross-legged inside the small house that had already been built.

He had given this small house a name.

Lin Yuan.

At that time, Hong Luan had been very curious: "Why give it this name?"

Huang Qi understood instead: "Standing by the abyss and envying the fish is not as good as retreating to weave a net?"

Li Lin nodded.

This was also his thought; rather than fighting and scrambling outside, it was better to stay at home and cultivate.

Now, after sitting in quiet cultivation for three shichen, he slowly opened his eyes again.

The two women were sleeping on the large bed nearby.

He stood up and gently moved his body.

His face was full of joy.

His previous guess was correct.

The so-called protective barrier powder was actually a special substance that filtered out 'impure qi'; now the spiritual qi inside here was at least thirty percent more abundant than outside, which greatly improved his absorption efficiency.

The effect was at least double the original.

Why did a thirty percent increase in quantity result in a doubling of efficiency? This involved the concept of efficiency.

Qi Refining is the practice of attracting the spiritual qi of heaven and earth.

But in the process of absorbing spiritual qi, impure qi is also drawn into the body.

At this time, the meridians would instinctively expel the impure qi, which also required allocating efficiency 'resources'.

Therefore, the more impure qi there is, even if the spiritual qi is abundant, the effect of cultivation will not be very obvious.

But if there is more spiritual qi and less impure qi, fewer resources are needed to repel the impure qi, and more resources can be used for absorption.

Therefore... in places where spiritual qi is denser, efficiency will increase significantly.

Li Lin personally felt that if the amount of spiritual qi increased by forty percent, then his cultivation efficiency should increase by an additional two times or more.

He gently exhaled, looked at the two women on the bed, covered them with their quilts, and then went out, closing the door behind him.

Once outside, he saw Li Yanjing standing there.

She bowed slightly to Li Lin: "Congratulations, Head of the Family."

She could not enter this small house built of bricks made from protective barrier powder, but seeing Li Lin's expression, she knew the matter had succeeded.

Li Lin smiled: "From now on, we can save some blood qi to feed you."

Li Yanjing's eyes brightened, and she couldn't help but smile lightly: "This is the best news I have heard since I became an Apparition."

"Help me guard this place; Huang Qi and Hong Luan are still resting inside."

"Good."

Li Lin left his home, rode a horse, and arrived at the county government office.

A government office Runner came to hold his horse for him; Li Lin jumped down from the horse and asked, "Take me to see that Daoist."

Immediately, a government office Runner led the way ahead.

Li Lin quickly arrived at the prison, and then saw Xuan Yangzi locked up by several thick iron chains, with even two iron nails piercing through his collarbones to prevent him from escaping.

After all, last time Lian Hua had not taken these measures, allowing him to easily break out of prison and even injure three jailers.

At this time, Xiao Chunzhu was also here; his face was somewhat pale.

Li Lin ignored Xuan Yangzi and looked at Xiao Chunzhu, saying, "You go back and rest for a few days. Once your injuries heal, there will be a surprise for you."

Xiao Chunzhu's eyes lit up; he clasped his fists and said, "Yes, my lord County Commandant."

With that, he left happily.

Li Lin turned around and looked at the Daoist inside the iron cage.

At this moment, Xuan Yangzi's face was ashen; black blood still dripped from his clothes, carrying a peculiar, fishy stench.

"Xuan Yangzi, judging by your appearance, you seem far from convinced."

Xuan Yangzi opened his eyes, which were filled with bloodshot veins. He spat, "Dog official, winning by numbers against fewer opponents—what skill is that?"

Li Lin smiled: "I am an official, you are a thief. Never mind winning by numbers; even if I executed you without trial, it would be a matter of natural justice."

"Our Demon-Slaying Society acts for all beings under heaven and speaks out for the world's perils. You call us thieves... you dog official truly know nothing."

Li Lin shook his head: "I have never seen anyone who kills common people claim to act for all beings under heaven."

"Ignorant child, do you know how terrifying the Outer Demons are? We do not wish to harm ordinary people, but we have no choice; it is an unavoidable trade-off."

Li Lin looked at the other's resolute expression; he knew this person had 'fallen into demonic ways' and firmly believed his actions were right.

Arguing with him further would be useless.

So he asked, "I am curious, how did you know the Outer Demons had arrived? Was there a sign?"

"Of course there was!" Xuan Yangzi looked at Li Lin: "When Outer Demons descend upon the world, great calamities strike heaven and earth. The expanding deserts in the Southern Barbarian regions and the ten-month-long White Calamity in the Northern Di regions are the signs."

Li Lin raised an eyebrow: "The desertification of the Southern Barbarians was caused by the Outer Demons? Then how do you find them?"

"Why should I tell you?"

"If you won't say, so be it; others surely know this matter." Li Lin turned to leave.

"What do you intend to do with me!"

"The incident at Fuxin Village should be related to you, right?"

Li Lin turned around.

Xuan Yangzi paused, then asked, "How did you know!"

"In the entire Jin Commandery, the number of people capable of splitting an altar with a single sword strike is few; none of them had the time to commit the crime, nor were they near Yulin County." Li Lin looked at him coldly: "So I reasonably deduce that you, possessing an immortal artifact... that Immortal Sword, could split the altar with a single strike."

"You... guessed correctly; I indeed did it."

Li Lin spoke with a cold expression: "Hundreds of people in Fuxin Village died because of you. Go down and join them. In two days, your case file will be presented to the Prefect's government office, and you will be publicly beheaded at the South Gate at noon two days from now."

Xuan Yangzi paused, then struggled frantically: "You cannot do this, you cannot! Our Demon-Slaying Society acts for all beings; we cannot die so wrongly, we cannot!"

(End of this chapter)